Electric-lighting system for automobiles.



H. W. SHRYOCK.

ELECTRIC UGHTING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.26, Isl-r5.

1,1 99,?) 1 Q 6 Patented Sept. '26, 1916.

I b Q fi fi I 2b 26 Q L a IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY HARRY w; sHnYocK, or EVERSb-N, WASHINGTOEL,

ELECTRIC-LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification ofizetters Patent. Patented sept. 26, 1916,

Application filed August 26, 1915. Serial-No. 47,393.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY W'. SHRYOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Everson, in the county of Whatcom and State of ll ashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lighting Systems for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lighting systems for automobiles; and the object of my invention is to provide convenient means to continue the lighting current through the remaining headlight lamp after one lamp has burned out, when said lamps are connected in series. I accomplish this object with the devices and connections illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure l is a plan view of a switch designed for. myhew system and the upper portion of the steering-wheel column of an automobile to which it is attached, Fig. '2

is an elevation view in vertical section on the line i of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagram of the apparatus and electrical connections comprising my system required for installing in an automobile. Fig. 4 is an end ele- Vation of my switch detached from said column and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same from the bottom.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several views. I

Certain parts are broken into in order to show parts hidden thereby.

More particularly: The upper part of the front of the column of an automobile steering wheel is shown at 1, The insulating base 2 of an electric switch is fitted to said column. Fastening bands 2*, 2" attached to base 2 with screws clamp said base to said column. Concentric segments 2", 2, 2, 2

and 2 are embedded in base 2 flush with the upper surface of the same. A disk 2 hav lnga central tapped hole is attached to the center of base 2 concentric with said segments. A cover 3-is retained over segments 22 -byscrew stud 3 engaged in the threaded hole in disk 2 has a shoulder seated on said disk and mounts cover 3 on said stud for rotation over said segments. Diametrically opposed knobs 3, 3 13.115 rigidly attached to cover 3 and furnish finger holds when revolving said cover. A brush bar 4c is fitted into Said screw stud.

the upper part of cover 3 diametrically across the same. Bar 4 has end slots at", 4

taposed concentric segments 2, 2 etc. when cover 3 is rotated. Said springs are so shaped that they may lie between the juxtaposed ends of said segments without con tact with the same as shown in Fig. 4. Each of said segments is connected to an insulated wire 5 as shown in Fig. 5. Said wires 5, 5 etc. are embedded in grooves in the bottom of from said base Figs. 1, 2, 4 and ,5.

In the diagram Fig. 3 the switch segments 2--2 are arranged as in Figs. 1 and 2, and these together with the right-hand lam 9, the left-hand lamp lO, the constan ly driven magneto 8, the resistance coil base 2. and pass downward along column 1 as shown 1n place. Two spring line in Fig. 3 in four operative positions at 4, 4, 4" and it. 4 4 4"" and 45 4 in Fig. 3 show the lines of contact and connection between the brushes 4. and 4c and the segments 2, 2, 2, e and 2 when bar 4 occupies its four operable positions in rotation. One-ter1iiinal of each of lamps 9 and 10 are connected together by wire 6 and to one terminal of resistance coil 7 by wire 6*. Theother terminal of said coil 7 is connected to segment 21 One terminal 8 of magneto 8 is con nected to the frame of the same as usual, said magneto frame is connected to segment '2", and its brush 8 is connected to segment 9 is con- 2 The other terminal of lamp nectcd to segment 2, while the other terinia nal of lamp 10 is connected to segment 2 The operation of the switch tocontrol the current supply of the lamps is easily undc 'stood from 3 when it is noted that each of the brushes i and a, Fig. 2, always Dotted lines 4;, 4; 4r

forms an electrical omnection between the concentric, juxtaposech switch segments on which it lies, and wl'ien said brush rests on the insulation between the juxtaposed ends of said segments the electric circuit is broken Thus whenthe brush bar IS in position 4, Fig. Ehno current can pass the switch, hence the lamp circuit is open. (hen said brush bar is in position l the current from. niagneto 8 passes through lamps 9 and 10 in series. \Vhcn brush bar 4 is in position l said current passes through. lamp i) and resistance coil 7 in series lamp 110 being cut out. .l' lnd when said bar is in position sai magneto current passes through lamp -10 and coil 7 in. series, lamp 9 being cut out. Therefore hy setting cover 3 in the m'opei' position in rotation the cir 'cuit through lamps ai'i llO can he opened,

established through both lamps in series or either lamp alone will, thus providing for the use of one of the headlights when the other not usable.

Having thus described my inwntion What I claim as new and desire to by Letters Patent is,

The combination of a magneto; a resistance coil; two electric lamps; and the'hasc of .an. electric switch having concentric inner and outer rings of segments, the two segments of said inner ringconnected to the terminals of said magneto, one of the three segments of said outer ring connected to one of the terminals of said resistance coil and each of the other two outer segments connected to one of the terminals of said lamps, and the other terminals of said lamps conted to cther and to the other terminal of said. resistance coil; with two diametrically opposed brushes slidable on said concentric s ments.

vb n Signed at Bcllingham in the county oi:

llhatcom and State of ashington this August A. li. 1915. -ll

HURRY W. rill RYOCK w itnesses: 

